Rain Drops For A Second Day On Parched California

Heavy rain from a powerful Pacific storm flooded a freeway and sent residents in some wildfire-scarred communities of California scrambling to escape the threat of mudslides.

In Northern California, officials are trying to control erosion following fires in the mountains east of Sacramento and near Yosemite National Park.

It's still early in California's wet season and the rain has yet to make much of an impact on the drought or the state's main reservoirs.

The National Weather Service says significant rain has fallen in Sacramento region since the showers began yesterday.

"1.42 inches in downtown over the last 24 hours, almost an inch and a half," says Jason Clapp, with the National Weather Service.

Clapp says travel may be hazardous due to wet roads, and in the Sierra, roads may be slipper, especially above 7,000 feet. Areas burned by the King Fire may also have debris flow problems. Forecasters say fallen leaves may also lead to some small-scale urban flooding.

The rain is expected to continue through tomorrow. Twelve to 18 inches of snow is possible in the Sierra, with 2 to 3 feet possible at the highest elevations.